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MS 7th Grade Girls End Season with a Rough Loss to Rogers

by Mark Strain

7th Grade Lexington Lady Eagle, Courtney Strain, dribbles the ball down court, holding the Rogers’ Lady Eagle at bay. The Lexington Middle School Lady Eagles traveled to Rogers to take on the Lady Eagles of Rogers on Thursday, February 2, for the last basketball game of the season. Rogers started things rolling by winning the tip off and scoring the first 6 points of the game.

Lexington’s #5 Courtney Strain was able to swat the ball away, and it was picked up by #21 Madison Stefek and put in for 2, to start the Lexington scoring. Stefek scored again before #13 Kynslie Meyer took an inbound pass to get in on the scoring. Stefek turned around and scored 2 more times to make the end of the first period, 10-6 Lexington.

The second period went back and forth several times before Stefek hit again. Meyer added a single free throw for Lexington, but Rogers had a press working and was shooting one and one foul shots, which enabled them to score 11 points. Going in to half time, the game was 17-13, Rogers.

We may not be able to see Whitney Willrich’s opponent in this picture, but the concentration in Whitney’s face is obvious.
PHOTO BY MARK STRAIN. The third period was rough. Like most middle school games, the referees tend not to call too many fouls because it slows the game down. Once you start fouling, and nothing is called, it accelerates from there. The referees called a technical foul on a Lexington player for a push, then called another technical foul on our coach, who protested the lack of even refereeing. The four free throws gave Rogers two more points.

Both teams were pressing, and playing well, which enabled 11 points to be scored for both teams in the third, making the start of the fourth period score 28-24 Rogers.

In the 4th period, Meyer added 2 points, and then Lexington’s leading scorer, # 21 Madison Stefek, was sent to the bench with 5 fouls. Both teams were pressing and there was lots of excitement in the gym, with Lexington down by 2.

Jaclyn Alford picks up her knees for an extra boost before shooting the basket.
PHOTO BY MARK STRAIN. Lexington inbounded the ball, and the Lexington Eagle ball carrier got excited, turned, and sent a shot flying. The ball was true to the mark and scored 2. The only problem was, the shot was made at the wrong goal, and now Rogers led by 4.

The play continued and #0 Mariah Garza scored 2 for Lexington. #4 Alford hit for a quick 2, and, with time running down, Lexington trailed by 2. With seconds left in the game, Lexington sent another player to the bench with 5 fouls and watched Rogers walk away with a 33-30 win.

Congratulations to Coach Mitchell and the Lexington 7th Grade Lady Eagles on a wonderful 9-4 season, including a First Place finish in the Giddings Tournament.

Madison Stefek corrals a loose ball for the green Lady Eagles. Scoring for Lexington in the Rogers game were: 2 by #0 Mariah Garza; 5 by #13 Kynslie Meyer; 7 by #4 Jaclyn Alford and 16 by #21 Madison Stefek.